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Features
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| Introducing NEM3SI$’s new label Infinite Resistance! | | Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! | | Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! | | Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! | | Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. | | Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! | | Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! | | NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! | | Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! | | Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! | | Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! | | SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! | | The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! | | NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! | | Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project | | The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! | | A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden | | Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma | | Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino | | New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! |
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Interview with Above & Beyond
Reported by Ehren Stowers
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Submitted 08-06-04 11:20
As a preview to their forthcoming set at Trance Generation, Ehren Stowers talks to one of the hottest dj/production properties around at the moment when he meets Above and Beyond. Responsible for the creation of the renowned Anjunabeats label and some of the most inspirational trance productions ever made over the years, including that of Chakra “Home” and more recently under the guise of “Oceanlab”, Above & Beyond have consequently risen to where they stand today as in demand dj’s on all four continents. In this straight to the point interview, we find out from the guys how it all started, their forthcoming plans for Oceanlab, what tune they’d pick to save the world with and oh…. about chatting to Madonna on the phone.
You are both regarded and respected for being quality producers (and now DJ’s) of Trance music. Amongst your huge list of production credits, your remix of Chakra’s ‘Home’, Madonna’s ‘What it feels like for a Girl’, Motorcycle’s ‘As the Rush comes’,& your own single, ‘Far from in Love’ are probably the most well-known (not to mention your work under ‘Oceanlab’). How did you all come about into working together as ‘Above & Beyond’, producing Trance? Was it something that just kinda happened, or did you chase it? & How does your record label ‘AnjunaBeats’ fit into all this?
Tony: Jono and Paavo started producing trance whilst still at University and launched the label with its first release "Anjunabeats Volume One". They joined up with me to complete a remix for Warners I’d been asked to do whilst still working there (Chakra "Home"). The mix did really well and more remix work started coming in: Aurora, Dario G, Armin and so on. Anjunabeats was originally an outlet for our own repertoire but then we started signing acts to it and it has grown from there. James (Jono’s brother) has been with us for the last two years in a management/A&R capacity and his presence has helped the label grow.
Jono: I met Paavo at university and he heard some of my tracks and was interested in setting up a label with me. We did and wrote the first release, Anjunabeats "Volume One". I met Tony through his brother liam, who had bought a sound library CDROM for a Yamaha sampler that I had created. Tony was offered to work on the Chakra "Home" Remix, and asked Paavo and myself if we’d like to work on it with him.
Anjunabeats is consistently, one of the best Trance labels around at the moment. What do you personally look for within tracks to be considered for your label? Is it hard to ‘maintain’ the sound your label is now recognised for? (or is there plenty to choose from?!)
Jono: We tend to get sent tracks that sound like Above & Beyond, but we’re much keener to sign stuff that doesn’t sound exactly like us. There is a lot to choose from, but it’s a real challenge to find the gems.
Tony: We look to sign tracks that we like: there has to be something original and distinctive for us to be excited about it. To be honest, there are quite a few producers making records that sound like Anjunabeats material, but not too many that make good music consistently. We’re lucky with Smith & Pledger and Super8, particularly, as these guys are really prolific.
What was the first tune you ever produced together? Who came up with the name ‘Above & Beyond’?
[b]Jono: In my student days I had a print out on my wall from the internet from a motivational speaker named "Jono Grant"... It was quite funny, so I stuck it up on the wall. The title said "ABOVE & BEYOND", and when we were looking for a name whilst working on the Chakra remix, Tony saw it and decided that was perfect for us given the uplifting sound of our music and the fact he was still working at Warner Music at the time (the work he was doing on the remix was "above & beyond the call of duty!").
Where and when was your first clubbing experience? How do you think it has changed over the years?
Tony: I used to go to Seb Fontaine’s club Malibu Stacey in the 90’s. I went every week for three years. The music was a lot more varied in those days ... you’d have house guys and trance guys and people in between all in the one night. And people dressed up a lot more than they do now.
Jono: When I was 16 I managed to sneak into a a club called Oz (aka the warehouse) in Plymouth and heard tracks like Grace "Skin on Skin" and Leftfield "Song of Life". I was amazed and instantly inspired.
What is it, about Trance music, that inspires you personally?
Tony: I think it’s the melodic, emotional side that makes trance interesting and so resilient.
Jono: Trance music can be inspiring, but I find most of my inspiration comes from other music. The thing I find most inspiring in dance music is normally the groove/rhythm.
Who were your influences before you began producing together? Who are they now?
Tony: I guess Ferry Corsten and Matt Darey. Now it’s a lot broader: I love Starecase and Leama and Moore particularly.
Jono: In the electronic music area: Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Jean Michael Jarre, Electronic, New Order.
What prompted you to produce under the name ‘Oceanlab’? do you have any other Aliases?
Tony: We did a single with Justine Suissa, an old friend of mine, and weren’t sure of it in some respects. So we invented the name OceanLab to give us a separate strand for stuff with Justine. We had a lot of aliases at one point but now we’re sticking to A&B for our DJ’ing, remixing and most of our productions, OceanLab is us with Justine and Tranquility Base is our club tracks alias.
Under Oceanlab (with the Angelic touch of Justine Suissa), you have produced a string of successes, ‘Clear Blue Water’, the massive ‘Sky Falls down’, ‘Beautiful Together’ and recently, the equally impressive ‘Satellite’. Do you have any more productions as Oceanlab in the pipeline?
Tony: We’re just about to record the new single ... the song is there but I’m not sure what the title should be yet. Our plan is to do an album.
Jono: Yes, we are writing a follow up single to Satellite, and we may look at an album. That’d have to be more than an album of trance, though!
How would you describe your ‘sound’?
Tony: Uplifting, melodic, intelligent club monsters.
Jono: Melodic, Uplifting, Deep.
Where do you see Trance/Dance in 5 years?
Jono: More diverse, hopefully
Tony: Continuing to evolve and still really popular.
)What are your thoughts on the current trends of the media to proclaim the ‘death of dance’??
Tony: As inaccurate as most of what you read in the papers.
Jono: It’s not possible for something to be fashionable for too long, and dance music is coming back at the moment. It’s a natural cycle, I think. Also Trance in particular suffered due to the Euro pop trance charting over here. A lot of people out of the scene I speak to think they hate trance, but the general public thinks trance is the stuff in the charts.
When did you all begin DJing? (was it before or after you started producing?) How have you found the shift between just producing, to producing and DJing as ‘Above & Beyond’?
Tony: Our A&B DJ debut was in Japan in front of 8,000 people alongside Ferry Corsten and Tiesto. Its been exciting to be straight in at the top of a profession we’re quite new to.
Jono: I’ve been Djing for about 5 years now. I started when I was at university. The transition is much easier than for those who’ve never played an instrument or produced. It’s nice to have some time out of the studio to see what it’s all about.
Has DJing given you a new insight into producing?
Tony: Absolutely. You are forced to listen to a lot more records when you DJ, and you get lots of ideas from them. Then you get to see what works out in a club, so if you are testing out a new purchase or an unfinished production, you can assess it "in situ", both in terms of the sound of the record and the arrangement.
Jono: Yes, but not as much as I’ve been told it did. I think if you do your research it’s not hard to figure out what is going to work on the floor. If anything it’s made me want to experiment more.
What do you think is one of the most important qualities a DJ should really have above all?
Tony: Good taste!
Jono: One of the most important things is for them to enjoy themselves. Sounds self indulgent, but actually the crowd really feed off
Have you spotted any unknown talent recently that you would consider a potential force to be reckoned with in the future? Who are they? Where did you spot them?
Tony: I’ve been playing a remix from this guy on our Anjunabeats forum called Mathew Adams for a couple of months now. It’s the Fred Baker tune Introspection", but Mathew’s mix is better than anything Vandit put out.
Jono: Matthew Adams, a guy from Germany has made some great bootleg remixes. Namely of Fred Baker’s "Introspection".
What has been your favourite DJ gig to date? Why?
Tony: St James Theatre, Auckland last December. For a start it’s a legendary venue ... its where Crowded House did a lot of their shows, the crowd were really up for it, Paavo & I had just come from Kerikeri beach (where they shot "The Piano"), my old mate John Kelly was on the bill and we played a blinder!
Jono: Difficult to choose, but playing at sunrise in Russia last summer was an amazing experience. The people there really appreciated it. In the UK people have so many more opportunities to go clubbing.....
What is the most memorable experience you have had whilst DJing and Producing?
Tony: I think getting the calls from Madonna during the two weeks we were tweaking her remix was pretty cool!
Jono: Probably seeing everyone sing along to "Satellite" at Passion this year. We filmed it and showed it to the guys at Radio 1 to help get it on the playlist.
Equally, What has been the worst experience?
Tony: The worst thing is when a record jumps or a CD skips as people always think its you!
Jono: A gig in cardiff where they advertised over 40 DJs. There were about as many people!
Which labels are you into at the moment?
Jono: Spinnin (and sub labels), Euphonic are quite consistent in quality. I’m pretty picky and don’t play every release from any labels, though I wish I could sometimes!
If you had to nominate just one tune to save the day, what would it be, and why?
Tony: Tranquility Base Razorfish for me. It’s a perennial favourite with us and the punters.
Jono: Too difficult to choose. Probably New Order "Blue Monday"
Your playing at the Soundshaft for your debut performance with ‘Trance Generation’ on Friday June 11th (alongside Matt Darey, Simon Patterson + Residents); what can people expect to hear your play, and do you have any new work you might be road testing on the night?
Tony: Oh yes. We have a new A&B remix and two new Tranquility Base tunes to play.
Jono: A great journey in quality trance.
Where do you see yourselves in 5 years time??
[
b]Tony:[/b] Top 5 in the DJ poll, world’s best trance producers and Anjunabeats riding the wave as dance music comes back with a bang!
Jono: On a beach.
Trance Generation
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On:
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Friday 11th June 2004
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At:
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The Soundshaft [map]
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From:
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10pm - 7am
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Cost:
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£15. (£12 Advance Tickets & £12 before 11pm)
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Website:
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www.trancegeneration.co.uk
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Ticket Info:
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Ticketweb
Tel. 08700 600 100
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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Trance Generation continues to pull out all the stops as it parades another first class-premiership-lineup, this month in the form of Above and Beyond, Matt Darey and Simon Patterson.
Following the sellout success of the last event in April with Scott Bond, Matt Hardwick and Solarstone, its becoming increasingly clear that Trance Generation don't plan on cutting any corners and are planning to quickly make their mark on the scene over the coming months.
In addition, its the joint 3rd Birthday party of promoters DPressure Events. Expect even more shennanigans on top of the normal superb production, which from the last event saw more lasers and TV monitors that would put most major clubs to shame.
A very big night in a small, intimate club.
Purchase of advance tickets for this limited capacity event are HIGHLY recommended.
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Flyer:
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Other Features By Ehren Stowers:
Adam White preview for Trance Generation
Trance Generation Preview - Interview With Ben Lost
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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